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Denise TsadeyohdiWaterman Category Builder Tribe Oneida Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 6/9/1953 Denise Tsadeyohdi Waterman is a Haudenosaunee Oneida Nation citizen and Turtle clan family member. Ms. Waterman has served as a teacher and Mathematics Specialist for nearly forty years at the Onondaga Nation School. In 2016 the NIEA-NYS awarded Teacher of the Year, and The NIEA awarded her the National Community Service Teacher of the Year in 2014. Ms. Waterman co-founded the Onondaga Nation Education organization, the Onondaga Nation Minor Athletics, & the Onondaga Nation OLA Junior Lacrosse, Advisory Board member for Ohngwe sports, and is a Founding Board member (1983) of the Iroquois National Lacrosse of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Denise Waterman said, “I enjoy applying Haudenosaunee ideology manifesting itself through the Haudenosaunee lacrosse, which allows the entire world to see, learn, and feel the pride of indigenous peoples and lacrosse enthusiasts from every corner of the world.” During her tenure as Executive Director of the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse 2010-2015, she wrote, established, and negotiated the 2011 FIL merger initiative for the Haudenosaunee regarding the full nation membership for all our people within the world lacrosse organization. She also is widely noted for winning the bid to host the international 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships on Native Lands; under her auspices as Executive Director. The World Lacrosse. Inc., an international sporting organization, has awarded Ms. Waterman the International Spirit of Lacrosse Award in 1998, 2007, 2011, and 2016. Her colleagues say, “The sustainability and future of indigenous sports are protected, thanks to the vigilance and character and truth of Denise Waterman that is the energy, the positive leadership that is the inner wisdom that provides us a view beyond ourselves; at no expense to others.” Denise Waterman’s educational background includes a B.S., SUCO New York in Education, Master’s Syracuse University, CAS in Education Leadership, and Ed.D Executive Leadership candidate at LeMoyne College. Denise’s family members are Lawson, Madex, Kohen, Kimaura, Tia, and Gewas. Done:toh. Home 2026 Banquet 2026 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Neilson Powless Category Athlete Tribe Oneida Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 9/3/1996 Neilson Powless burst onto the United States road racing scene as a 19-year-old and found instant success, finishing ninth overall at the 2016 Amgen Tour of California and winning a stage at the Tour de l’Avenir. Those results shot him to the World Tour where his adaptability accelerated his learning curve. His sporting family laid the foundation for his future professional success. His mom ran the marathon in the 1992 Olympics. His dad was in the Air Force and raced Ironman’s, winning an award for being the top Ironman finisher who was also in the military. His sister, Shayna is also a professional cyclist who has raced for the US National Team. Family time in the Powless household was spent outdoors: swimming in the lake, running, and riding bikes on the trails in Northern California. Before pursuing cycling, Powless won both XTERRA National and World Championships in 2012. Since entering the World Tour, most notable results are as follows: Winner of 2021 Klasikoa Donostia San Sebastián and the first time an American has won a World Tour one day race in over a decade. 5th place in 2021 Pro World Championships and the best result for an American in over two decades. Competed twice in the Tour de France and first ever North American Native to compete in the Tour de France. Photo: Getty Images Home 2026 Banquet 2026 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Kyle Ḵaayák’w Worl Category Athlete Tribe Tlingit, Deg Hit’an Athabascan and Yup'ik Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 3/16/1991 Kyle Ḵaayák’w Worl is an award-winning Arctic Sports athlete and coach currently residing in Juneau, Alaska. Worl is Tlingit of the Lukaax̱.ádi clan, Deg Hit’an Athabascan and Yup'ik. Over his 13 year career in the sport he has won over 100 medals, traveling through Alaska, Canada and Greenland to participate in various competitions. He is credited for spurring a renaissance in Arctic Sports in southeast Alaska as the first coach for Juneau in over 25 years to bring a team to the Native Youth Olympics in 2018. Along with training and coaching year-round in Alaska, Worl travels across the world to share Arctic Sports, including the Riddu Riddu Festival in Norway, Orenda Art International Gallery in Paris, and Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Currently, Worl works with the Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska as the Wellness Coordinator, overseeing a region-wide Traditional Games program. A few of his accolades include being featured in October 2019 Men’s Health Magazine; 2018 & 2019 NYO Games Alaska Healthy Coach Award; 2021, 2018, 2017 & 2016 World Eskimo Indian Olympics Outstanding Athlete Award. Arctic Sports are a collection of Indigenous games based on hunting and survival skills of the north. The games trained both physical and mental abilities that allowed the indigenous people of Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Chukotka to thrive in the Arctic for millennia. Today athletes from across the Arctic and beyond carry on the tradition of the games in events such as Native Youth Olympics, World Eskimo-Indian Olympic, and Arctic Winter Games. Photos: Nobu Koch, Sealaska Heritage and Greg Lincoln, Delta Discovery. Home 2026 Banquet 2026 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Ernie Stevens Jr. Category Athlete Tribe Oneida Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 7/5/1959 Ernie Stevens, Jr. is Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) out of Washington, DC. Serving in his 11th consecutive two-year terms. Stevens serves as Chairman and National spokesman for the Indian Gaming industry working with Tribal Leadership in shaping policy initiatives that have the potential to impact the industry. Stevens served as elected Councilman for the Oneida Nation from 1993 to 1996. His career in Washington, DC began in 1995 as the First Vice-President of the National Congress of American Indians. He serves as a board member of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, Nike N7 Foundation, Center for American Indian Youth, and Native American Graduate Center. In 2008, Stevens was inducted into the National Indian Athletic Association Hall of Fame. In 2012, he was inducted into the Boys & Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2013, he was inducted as Lifetime Member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium’s Alumni Association. In 2015, Stevens was inducted into the American Gaming Association Gaming Hall of Fame, and has received several national accolades. Ernie’s boxing career started in his teens. At 16, along with boxing icon Louie Askinette, he co-founded the Soaring Eagle Boxing Club in Oneida in 1975. His accolades include 4-time State Heavyweight Champion in 1976, 1977, 1978 & 1979. He is also a two-time National Indian Heavyweight Champion out of Carson City, NV in 1977 & 1978. In 1977, he was 17 years old fighting seasoned men to win the Championship. Stevens received an Associate Degree from Haskell Indian Junior College, 1983, a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Senario College,1996 and a Masters in Management from the University of Phoenix, 2021. Stevens is married to his wife and best friend of 43 years, Cheryl. Together they have 5 kids and 17 grandchildren. Home 2026 Banquet 2026 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Officials Michael Thomas St. Croix Ojibwe

Jason Peters Category Coach Tribe Mi’kmaw Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 12/25/1972 Jason Peters, a Mi’kmaw, is a member of Glooscap First Nation located within the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. He has been a coach and an Indigenous and mainstream sport leader for 33 years. Peters is also a recognized sport administrator, Chartered Professional Coach (ChPC), and a National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Coach Developer, Basketball Coaches of Canada Advisory Board member and Head Coach of Team Yukon’s U18 Women’s program that will be attending the 2022 Canada Games. Peters’ is believed to soon be Canada’s first Indigenous basketball Head Coach at the Canada Games taking place in Niagara in 2022. He is a two-time provincial champion at Bayside Middle School and former Head Coach of the Simonds High School Seabees women’s program in Saint John, New Brunswick. He served as the Chef de Mission of Aboriginal Team New Brunswick during the 2014 (Regina) and 2017 (Toronto) North American Indigenous Games. In 2013. he was inductee of the New Brunswick Aboriginal Sports Hall of Fame and in 2011 his book Aboriginal Sport Heroes: Atlantic Canada was published. In 2009 Peters served as an Assistant Coach of the New Brunswick women’s Canada Games basketball team (PEI), Canada Basketball’s Nike Centre for Performance and received the New Brunswick Aboriginal Coaching Award. In 2012 he received Basketball New Brunswick’s Special Merit Award for his ongoing service to the basketball community. Peters’ coaching career started in 1989 when he volunteered to coach a Junior Mini team in the newly established East Saint John Minor Basketball Association (ESJMBA). He eventually became a rep team coach, a member of the board of directors and President. Jason also served as a board member of the Coaching Association of Canada, Coach New Brunswick, the Aboriginal Sport Circle, and the North American Indigenous Games Council. Photo Credits: 2010 Vancouver Olympic Committee and Jason Peters Home 2026 Banquet 2026 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Team 2024 2019 Haudenosaunee Nationals Women Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back The Haudenosaunee Nationals women's team won the gold medal in the Pan-American Lacrosse World Qualifiers in Auburndale, Florida. The team started the tournament defeating Columbia 17-3. Next, they defeated Jamaica 21-3 to advance to the semifinals against Mexico. After defeating Mexico 14-4, the Haudenosaunee Nationals met Puerto Rico in the championship game, winning by a score of 16-6 to sweep through the tournament unbeaten. Top row left to right: WL Competition Chair Fiona Clark; HL Asst. Coach Leah Gallagher; Taylor Frink, Onondaga; Victoria Thompson, Mohawk; Tsiotenhariio Herne, Mohawk; Lois Garlow, Seneca; Mirabella Lazore, Mohawk; Enahaogwahs Schindler, Cayuga; Fantasy Jimerson, Seneca; Amber Hill, Cayuga; Gawehegyeho Thomas, Cayuga; HN Head Coach Katie Rowan; WL President Sue Redfern; HN Manager Tia Schindler, Cayuga Bottom row left to right: Kimberly Gibson, Cayuga; Jacelyn Lazore, Mohawk; Jalyn Jimerson, Cayuga; Katie Smith, Mohawk; Wadatawi Bomberry, Mohawk; Kohen Schindler, Cayuga; Trystyn Miller, Oneida; Dana Isaacs, Onondaga; Awehiyo Thomas, Cayuga; PALA President Katherine Loh

Jonathan Harmon <Back Hopi Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2024 Jonathan Harmon was born on the Navajo Reservation and is a member of the Hopi Tribe. He is currently the only Native American Coach for the NJCAA in the sport of Cross Country and is the first Native American Head Coach at Central Arizona College. Harmon started coaching at Holbrook High School in 2008, which is where he graduated in 2003. Harmon still holds the school records in the 1600m and 3200m races. He coached the men’s team to a fifth place finish in the region and had his top male place 29th at state and top female eighth at state. Coach Harmon started his college coaching at Central Arizona College in 2010 where he would fill the assistant coaching position for nine years. During his time as an assistant, Harmon led the men’s team to four NJCAA National Titles and four runner up trophies. Harmon’s first season as head coach was cancelled due to the pandemic but in 2021 he led the Men and Women’s team to an eighth place finish at the NJCAA National Meet. In 2022, both teams finished seventh overall. Throughout Coach Harmon’s tenure at Holbrook High School and Central Arizona College he has helped over 60 Native American Athletes to attain a higher level of education and continue their running at the university level. He currently maintains the men’s and women’s cross country teams at the college and has over seven Indigenous athletes from various tribes competing. His list of prior Native American NJCAA All Americans includes Ryan Yazzie, Tuba City HS (AZ); Jackson Thomas, Del Norte HS (NM); Brian Masayesva, Tuba City HS (AZ); Anthony Masayesva, Tuba City HS (AZ); Valerie Segay, Window Rock HS (AZ); Allison Denetchee, Ganado HS (AZ); Nikesha Eagleman, Ganado HS (AZ); Lara Yazzie, Page HS (AZ); Santiago Hardy, Chinle HS (AZ); Alicia Honyumptewa, Chinle HS (AZ); and, Precious Robinson, Pinon HS (AZ).

Teams 1999 Iroquois Nationals 2015 Team Canada Women's Soccer

Team 2024 2021 Haudenosaunee Nationals Women Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back The international lacrosse tournament featured 10 teams from seven Pan American countries. Florida hosted the 2021 PALA tournament showcasing World Lacrosse’s new Sixes discipline. The Iroquois Nationals team were victorious in the women’s division, and had dominated the sport and remained undefeated the entire tournament. The Iroquois Nationals defeated Puerto Rico in the championship by a score of 17-9. The women finished the tournament with a plus 64 goal differential and an amazing accomplishment for the Haudenosaunee women. Top row left to right: Cassandra Minerd, Onondaga; Jalyn Jimerson, Cayuga; Lois Garlow, Seneca; Sierra Cockerille, Mohawk; Taylor Frink, Onondaga; and Jacelyn Lazore, Mohawk Bottom row left to right: Ewehegwahs Williams, Cayuga; Lynnzee Miller, Cayuga; Beretta Santana, Seneca; Ivy Santana, Seneca; Jordan Coulon, Onondaga; and Jenna Haring, Seneca

Empowered Youth Development Initiatives Presents.... Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7, 2025 Oneida Hotel and Conference Center; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA The North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame will recognize the 2025 inductee class as well as other annual inductees in an exclusive ceremony and lunch on Saturday, June 7, 2025. There were 54 inductees and 300 guests at the first banquet on September 9, 2023 at the Canterbury Park Expo Center, Shakopee, MN, USA. Last September 16, 2024 there were 55 inductees and 450 guests at the Oneida Hotel and Conference Center, Green Bay, WI, USA. By honoring and celebrating the empowered journey of these individuals and teams, the hope is their stories may inspire future generations to follow their dreams in athletics. Please join us in our efforts to honor and recognize the elite indigenous athletics leaders in North America by becoming a hall of fame, table or drawing sponsor for the 2025 North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet. All proceeds will offset the event expenses including providing gifts to the inductees. This is the NAIAHF website: https://www.naiahf.org/ Dr. Dan and Susan Ninham, Directors, NAIAHF, PO Box 652, Red Lake, MN, USA, 56671, cell: 218.368.6430 coach.danninham@gmail.com 2025 NAIAHF Banquet Weekend Schedule Saturday 6/7/2025 7:00am Sunrise Tobacco Burning Ceremony Dr. Artley Skenandore Oneida Hotel and Conference Center; Green Bay, WI Saturday 6/7/2025 12:30pm Doors Open to 2025 NAIAHF Banquet NAIAHF Banquet: Opening Reception with Beverage Stations Three Clans Complex, Oneida Hotel and Conference Center Saturday 6/7/2025 1:00pm Welcome and Moment of Silence: Susan Ninham Honor Song: Buffalo Creek Drum Saturday 6/7/2025 1:30-2:30pm Buffet Lunch Meal Blessing: Susan Ninham Music Performance: Keith Secola, Anishinaabe, Singer/Songwriter, Music Performance Sponsor: Oneida Nation Saturday 6/7/2025 2:30pm-3:15pm Meet and Greet Inductees Reception Drawing Prizes Saturday 6/7/2025 3:15pm-4:00pm Oneida Smoke Dancers Demonstration Sponsor: Oneida Nation Saturday 6/7/2025 4:00 Sponsor Acknowledgment and Speaker Introductions: Dr. Dan Ninham Tehassi Hill, Chariman, Oneida Nation Ernie Stevens Jr., Chairman, Indian Gaming Association Vin Baker, RiseAbove, Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach, four-time NBA All Star, Olympic Champion Ogimaa Tim Ominika, Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, Ontario, Canada Julius Poitra, White Shield School, ND/Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation Individual and Team Inductee Recognition: Susan and Dr. Dan Ninham Honor Song: Chief Philip Whiteman Jr. Inductee Group Photo Meet and Greet Inductees Reception Inductee Speech Session Drawing Prizes Travel Song: Buffalo Creek Drum Inductee Banners Distribution

< Back Dennis J Danforth Sr. Dennis J Danforth Sr. Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Dennis Danforth Sr., “Teyohahase – Good Road,” is a member of the Oneida Nation (WI). Danforth earned his Associates degree in Business Management and currently works for the Oneida Comprehensive Housing Division. A devoted husband to Margaret Danforth and an amazing father to seven children and a proud grandfather to 14 grandchildren. Danforth began his boxing journey at 10 years old with his brothers at the Oneida Mission Boxing Club in Oneida, WI. This was the beginning of shaping a lifetime of family, healthy relationships, and core values through hard work, fitness, and commitment. Danforth’ high school years began at West De Pere High School, and in his junior year in 1974 he transferred to the Flandreau Indian School in Flandreau, South Dakota. Danforth was a multi-sport athlete playing football, basketball, track & field, and boxing. Trained by the late Joe O’Brien, a former Ojibwe boxer and a Marine veteran, Danforth learned valuable lessons of self-control, strategy, focus, sportsmanship, and was a boxing standout. Although Danforth was offered a football scholarship to Black Hill State University, his love of boxing took him on a journey that shaped his lifetime of self-discipline, humbleness, and competitiveness that he shares with his children and grandchildren. Danforth fought in the welterweight and middleweight classes. His greatest accomplishments as a boxer were being invited to the 1976 Olympic Trials and being a three-time National Indian Athletic Association two-weight class champion. Danforth won the 1977 South Dakota State Championship, the Upper Midwest Golden Gloves Championships in Minneapolis, and eventually crowned the 1977 Golden Gloves Welterweight Champion. He received a bid to the U.S. National Golden Gloves Tournament in Hawaii, where he joined Team Minnesota. He fought hard in Honolulu where he was defeated in a controversial split decision to a former three division world champion professional fighter. Danforth was also a two-time Wisconsin State AAU Boxing Tournament champion and participated in three National AAU Boxing tournaments throughout Indian Country. Danforth now enjoys passing on core values through coaching, singing for his community, and inspiring others to learn their culture, language and always be proud of who they are. <Back